Method and apparatus for treatment of sheet-like material

ABSTRACT

A sheet-like material such as a paper web or fabric web is treated with a fluid, for example, hot air or liquid dye. The material is carried by a permeable felt wire on which it is subjected to both pressure and direct fluid flow from a movable nozzle element. The nozzle element includes an endless support member driven by a pair of rollers and an outer flexible, chambered belt or sheet. The chambers of the flexible belt are provided with inlets through which the treating fluid, under pressure, is delivered thereto. The chambers are further provided with outlets or openings which allow the treating fluid to pass from the chambers. A porous sheet or belt is placed and secured around the flexible, chambered belt. In operation the sheet-like material passes through the apparatus on the permeable wire with the nozzle element moving in unison therewith. The treating fluid passes from the chambered belt, through the porous sheet into the material, with the pressure from the treating fluid maintaining the flexible belt, the porous sheet and material in a substantially sealed relation throughout the apparatus.

United States Patent Candor et al.

[151 3,657,069 [451 Apr. 18, 1972 [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF SHEET-LIKE MATERIAL [72] Inventors: Robert R. Candor, 5940 Munger Rd., Dayton, Ohio 45459; James T. Candor, 5440 Cynthia Lane, Dayton, Ohio 45429 [22] Filed: Dec. 18,1969

[21] Appl. No.: 886,090

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,532,660 4/1925 Patterson ..l62/313 2,753,766 7/1956 Simpson 162/297 2,888,378 5/1959 Maguire 162/210 Primary ExaminerS. Leon Bashore Assistant Examiner-Thomas G. Scavone Attorney-Candor, Candor & Tassone [5 7] ABSTRACT A sheet-like material such as a paper web or fabric web is treated with a fluid, for example, hot air or liquid dye. The material is carried by a permeable felt wire on which it is subjected to both pressure and direct fluid flow from a movable nozzle element. The nozzle element includes an endless support member driven by a pair of rollers and an outer flexible, chambered belt or sheet. The chambers of the flexible belt are provided with inlets through which the treating fluid, under pressure, is delivered thereto. The chambers are further provided with outlets or openings which allow the treating fluid to pass from the chambers. A porous sheet or belt is placed and secured around the flexible, chambered belt. In operation the sheet-like material passes through the apparatus on the permeable wire with the nozzle element moving in unison therewith. The treating fluid passes from the chambered belt, through the porous sheet into the material, with the pressure from the treating fluid maintaining the flexible belt, the porous sheet and material in a substantially sealed relation throughout the apparatus.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures This application is related to applicants copending application, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREAT- ING SHEET-LIKE MATERIAL AND THE LIKE, Ser. No. 868,396, filed Oct. 22, 1969, now Pat. No. 3592585 which is a continuation-in-part application of the copending patent application, Ser. No. 690,636, filed Dec. 14, 1967, now US. Pat. No. 3535428 and entitled LAUNDRY APPARATUS OR THE LIKE, which, in turn, is a continuation-in-part application of its copending patent application Ser. No. 635,848, filed May 3, 1967, and entitled LAUNDRY APPARATUS OR THE LIKE, now US. Pat. No. 3,447,174.

This instant application relates to a method and apparatus for treating sheet-like material such as paper webs, fabric webs, or other sheet material by causing a direct fluid flow between the material while it is being conveyed on a supporting means which may include a permeable sheet means and a flexible nozzle means engaging against the material during a portion of its travel on the supporting means. Such nozzle means may be at least partially covered by a porous sheet means.

In particular, it is well known from the US. Pat. to Holden, No. 3,284,285, that in the dewatering of fibrous webs, such as paper webs, a greater amount of dewatering thereof can take place if a pressure differential can be created across the web greater than the pressure differential provided by conventional suction box means. This patent also teaches that if the fibrous web can be under a compressed condition so that the moisture remaining therein will fill all voids in the material, the resulting pressure differential across such compressed web has a tendency to remove a greater amount of moisture therefrom than when the web is in an uncompressed condition.

Therefore, it is a feature of this invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for treating sheet material by providing a pressure differential across the same with a treating fluid whether the treating fluid is gaseous or liquid or both, as will be apparent hereinafter.

In particular, one embodiment of this invention provides a movable supporting means for receiving the sheet material and conveying the same through the apparatus in substantially flat form. Such movable supporting means may include a permeable sheet means. A movable nozzle is carried by the apparatus and has an end means provided with an opening means. Such opening means may be at least partially covered by a porous sheet means. Means are provided for causing the material to have a section thereof disposed between the end means of a nozzle means and to move in unison with the nozzle means and supporting means for a predetennined substantially straight line length of travel through the apparatus. Means are also provided for causing the end means of the nozzle means and the porous sheet means to be disposed in substantially sealed relation with the section of material during the predetermined length of travel through the apparatus. During such predetermined length of travel through the apparatus, a direct fluid flow is provided between the opening means of the nozzle means and the porous sheet means and the section of the material aligned between the opening means and the supporting means to treat that section of material with the fluid. The nozzle means comprises a flexible sheet means at least partially surrounding the opening means and defining the nozzle end means, the means for causing the end means to be disposed in substantially sealed relation with the section of material comprising means for creating a pressure differential across the sheet means to cause one side thereof to tend to press against the material on the supporting means during the predetermined length of travel of that section of material through the apparatus.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for treating a substantially sheet-like material and the like with fiuid, the apparatus of this invention having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method for treating substantially sheet-like material and the like with a fluid, the method of this invention having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the improved method and apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 2--2 of FIG. 1 with the inside surface of the flexible wall being stippled to illustrate its flexibility.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view with a front crosssectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 and illustrates the method for supplying fluid under pressure to the nozzle means of the apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and showing the apparatus of FIG. 1 used without the felt belt on the outer surface of the movable nozzle means.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the apparatus as used in FIG. 5.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adapted for treating fibrous webs, such as paper sheets, carpeting, etc., it can be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide methods and apparatus for treating other types of material as desired, such as nonmoisture bearing or absorbing materials.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring first to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, the improved method and apparatus of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises a movable foraminous supporting means 11 formed of metal, fibre or any other suitable material and being adapted to convey flat sheet-like material 12 from left to right in FIG. 1 through the apparatus 10, the flat sheet-like material 12 being fibrous paper stock, carpeting, etc., as will be apparent hereinafter.

The supporting belt 11 is adapted to pass over the upper side 13 of conventional section box means 14 having the upper side 13 thereof provided with perforations or openings 15 leading to the internal chamber means 16 thereof which is adapted to be evacuated by conventional suction means in a manner well known in the art or merely remain at atmospheric condition and be provided with suitable drain means in the bottom wall 17 thereof for removing moisture from the chamber 16 as the same accumulates therein in a manner hereinafter described.

As previously stated, the US. Pat. to Holden, No. 3,284,285, clearly teaches that it is desirable to create a high pressure differential across the sheet-like material 12 to remove moisture therefrom in a dewatering operation by causing a flow of high pressure air through the material 12 and the foraminous supporting means 11 into the chamber 16 at a force greater than can be provided solely by the result of the chamber 16 being evacuated by conventional suction means. In addition, the US. Pat. to Holden, No. 3,284,285, teaches that if the material 12 can be compressed so as to cause the moisture therein to fill all of the voids of the fibrous material 12 so as to provide a substantially continuous, sheet-like moisture layer therein, such pressure differential across the sheet means 12 removes the moisture in a manner more effective than merely by an entrainment of such moisture in the air rushing through the material 12.

However, the US. Pat. to Holden, No. 3,284,285, does not provide means for effectively compressing the sheet-like material 12 in a sealed manner while conforming to the exterior contour of the sheet material 12.

It will be apparent that the features of this invention do provide means for providing the high pressure difierential across the sheet-like material or sheet means 12 for the aforementioned dewatering purposes as well as for applying or impregnating liquid, such as dye or the like, into the material 12, if desired, while compressing such material 12 against the support means 11 and effectively sealing against the sheet-like material 12 regardless of its exterior contour.

Therefore, a flexible nozzle means is provided for the apparatus of this invention to act on the sheet-like material 12 while it is being conveyed in substantially flat form through the apparatus 10, the nozzle means being generally indicated by the reference numeral 18 in FIGS. 1-6.

The flexible nozzle means 18 comprises a continuous backing member 19 formed of metal, plastic or other suitable material to permit the same to be looped around a pair of roller means 20 and be-driven thereby in a counterclockwise direction at substantially the same speed of movement of the foraminous supporting means 11 from left to right in FIG. 1, the upper and lower runs 20A and 20B of the supporting member 19 being supported intermediate the outboard rolls 20 by a plurality of backup rolls 21 as diagrammatically illustrated and sufficiently close to each other to maintain the runs 20A and 20B substantially straight and parallel to the path of movement of the support means 11. If desired, the rolls 20 and 21 can be closer or spaced more than illustrated to maintain the runs 20A and 20B substantially straight as previously described.

A plurality of flexible sheet means 22 are interconnected to the backing member 19 in such a manner that each flexible sheet means 22 defines a chamber 23 separated by integral radial or outward walls 22A connected to the backing member 19. Each chamber 23 has a bottom or outer wall means 24 (in FIGS. 2 and 6) provided with a plurality of perforations or opening means 25 passing therethrough and being so controlled in the size and relationship thereof relative to each other that such opening means 25 will be arranged to engage against the sheet material 12 when the same is aligned therebetween in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6.

The flexible nozzle means 18 of this invention can be used without a surrounding porous belt in such a manner that the flexible sheet means 22 will be arranged to engage directly against the sheet material 12 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 when the apparatus of FIG. 1 is sued without the felt or porous belt to be later described in connection with FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

The flexible sheet means 22 can be one continuous sheet means with internal chambers 23 being formed therein separate from each other to produce the same effect as provided by the individual sheet means 22 illustrated in FIGS. 1,2 and 3, of the copending application entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING SHEET-LIKE MATERIAL AND THE LIKE.

In any event, the interiors of the chambers 23 of the flexible sheet means 22 of the instant application are adapted to be supplied with fluid under pressure from a valving means 26, FIG. 4, in any of the manners set forth in the last-named copending application or in the aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,447,174, and/or the copending patent application, Ser. No. 635,848 through individual conduit means 27 fluidly interconnected to the chambers 23 of the flexible sheet means 22 at the side wall means 28 thereof as illustrated in FIG. 4 whereby as each individual chamber 23 moves in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1, its respective conduit means 27 will follow such movement at both ends thereof and continuously supply fluid pressure thereto.

However, it is to be understood that the valve means 26 could be so constructed and arranged that when a particular chamber 23 passes to the right beyond the right-hand roller 20 to cross the top run 20A and just before the same engages against the sheet means 12 at the left-hand roller means 20, no fluid pressure would be supplied to that particular chamber 23, as desired.

Therefore, it can be seen that as the particular flexible sheet means 22 of FIG. 1, 5 and 6 engages against the travelling sheet means 12 at the left-hand roller means 20, such sheet means 22 moves in unison therewith for a substantially straight line path through the apparatus 10 until that particular sheet means 22 begins to move around the right-hand roller means 20. However, while that particular sheet means 22 is moving between the left-hand and right-hand roller mans 20 at the lower run 208 of the nozzle means 18, the fluid pressure being directed into the chamber 23 thereof creates a pressure differential across the wall 24 and causes the same to pressure and squeeze against the sheet means 12 to compress the sheet means 12 against the foraminous means 11 to not only tend to squeeze the liquid therefrom, but also to tend to cause the remaining liquid in the material 12 to fill all voids of the material 12 for the advantageous reasons set forth in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. to Holden, No, 3,284,285, the sheet means 22 at the same time directing fluid under pressure out through the perforations 25 thereof and directly through the sheet material 12 and foraminous supporting means 11 into the opening means 15 of the box means 14. If desired, the interior 16 of the box means 14 can be interconnected to a vacuum source so as to further enhance the pressure differential acting across the sheet means 12 for the dewatering or drying purpose previously described.

Of course, the fluid under pressure being delivered to the chambers 23 of the sheet means 22 can be heated air or the like to further enhance the drying effect of the apparatus 10 on the material 12.

Also, it is to be understood that the fluid being directed to the chambers 23 of the sheet means 22 could be a liquid, such as a die or the like, so as to effectively impregnate the material 12 in a believed to be more efficient manner than prior art devices for such purposes.

In any event, it can be seen that since the sheet means 22 each has a flexible lower end 24, (when located as in FIG. 6) such lower end 24 fully conforms to the exterior contour of the sheet means 12 so as to provide effective sealing around each perforation 25 thereof against the sheet means 12 and by so arranging the perforations 25 across the lower wall 24, such perforations 25 can be located just in the region of the sheet means 12 so that there is no escape of fluid from the chamber means 23 through the supporting means 11 outboard of the sheet means 12, if desired. However, it is to be understood that if the perforations 25 are sufficiently sized, even perforations 25 outboard of the sheet means 12 will not adversely affect the operation of the sheet means 22 forcing fluid through the other perforations 25 inboard of the sheet means 12 for the reasons previously set forth.

Therefore, it can be seen that the flexible nozzle means 18 of the apparatus and method 10 of this invention engages against the material 12 for a predetermined substantially straight line length of travel thereof through the apparatus 10 with the flexible sheet means 22 pressing against the material 12 to not only squeeze the same, but also to seal the openings 25 thereof against the sheet means 12 so that a direct flow will be provided between the chambers 23 of the sheet means 22 through the sheet means 12 to remove moisture therefrom or to drive liquid therein, the squeezing and sealing action being provided by the resulting pressure differential being created across the end walls 24 of the sheet means 22 with such pressure differential being increased by providing suction means on the other side of the sheet means 12, such as by the suction box means 14 illustrated and previously described.

If desired to further understand the function and operation of the sheet means 22 previously described, reference is made to applicants previous copending application, Ser. No. 868,396, filed Oct. 22, 1969, and entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING SHEET-LIKE MATERIALS AND THE LIKE," wherein in FIGS. 4 and 5 a single nozzle means is described in connection with a laundry apparatus as set forth in the aforementioned issued US. Pat. No. 3,447,174, it being understood that while the nozzle means moves in a circular path and the supporting means is cylindrical, the hereinafter described features and functions can be readily applied to a straight run moving sheet means in the manner provided by the nozzle means 18 of the apparatus previously described.

Said previous copending application also refers to applicants US. Pat. No. 3,344,447 and explains certain principles. However, it is believed unnecessary to repeat such explanations in the instant application.

In the embodiment disclosed in the instant application, FIG. 1, taken with FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the main action is the same as previously described in connection with FIGS. 1, 5 and 6 except that an outer porous sheet means or porous belt 30, with edges 32, 34, and made of felt or similar material, is placed and secured around the flexible sheet means 22. The belt 30 may be secured to the flexible sheet means 22 by any suitable means, such as by an adhesive or the like.

The lower run 20B of the belt 30, as shown in FIG. 2, presses against the sheet material 12. The flow or pressure of air, or the like, from chamber means 23 passes through openings 25 of the flexible lower end 24 of sheet means 22. Then the flow or pressure is through the outer porous sheet means or porous belt 30, and against and through the sheet material 12.

The sheet material 12 is then pressed against permeable sheet means 11 which may be a felt sheet, or a metal screen or a combination of a metal screen and permeable sheet means or felt sheet, as desired.

The permeable sheet means 11 may be supported on the foraminous supporting means 13 with perforations or openings 15.

Thus the dewatering action on the sheet-like material 12, as illustrated in FIG. 2, may include downward pressure by a porous sheet means and 30 downwardly pressed by the flexible lower end 24 ofthe sheet means 22.

Such dewatering action may also include the upward supporting action of the foraminous supporting means 13 supporting the permeable sheet means or permeable felt sheet 11 with or without an intermediate metal screen (not shown) between the felt sheet 11 and the foraminous supporting means 13.

Thus the sheet-like material 12 is compressively dewatered between an upper porous sheet means or felt means 30 and a lower permeable sheet means or felt means 11.

Alternatively, the lower permeable sheet means 11 may be a metal screen without the felt means.

If desired, removing means may be provided for removing dirt and/or gas or liquid from the porous sheet means 30 during the upper or return run 20A of said porous sheet means 30. For example, such removing means may include one or more suction rolls 36 adjacent said porous sheet means 30 at said upper or return run 20A of said porous sheet means 30. The porous sheet means or felt belt 30 then returns to the lower run 203 after being beneficially improved by such removing means.

However, the felt belt 30 may be made longer than the flexible sheet means 22 during such upper run 20A, so that such felt belt may be treated separately from the flexible sheet means 22. Thereafter the separated felt belt 30 may be returned into contact with flexible sheet means 22 for travel together in the run 20B.

In view of the above, it can be seen that the nozzle means 18 of FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this application can provide an improved dewatering action by the selection of an upper porous sheet means or felt belt 30 and a lower permeable sheet means or felt sheet 11.

Also, if desired, in such FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 the lower permeable sheet means 11 may be combined metal screens supporting a felt sheet, or the metal sheet screen can be used alone.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, with partial reference also to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the flexible sheet means 22 of FIGS. 5 and 6 may be used without the felt belt 30, so that the bare flexible sheet means 22, with its bare bottom or outer wall surface 24 engaging the upper surface of the sheet-like material 12, in FIG. 6, and applying its air pressure and air flow through openings 25 against and through such upper surface of material 12. The lower surface of material 12 may be supported by the permeable sheet means 11 which may be a permeable felt sheet, a metal screen, or a combined metal screen and felt sheet as desired.

The nozzle means 18 of FIGS. 1-6 can have the size and number of openings 25 formed in the end wall 24 so controlled relative to the magnitude of the fluid pressure being directed into the chambers 23 that the optimum results are obtained on the sheet means 12 without squeezing the same to an adverse degree while still substantially forcing and removing the moisture in the manner previously described.

Accordingly, it can be seen that this invention provides an improved apparatus and method for treating sheet-like material and the like.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for treating sheet-like material comprising movable engaging means including a permeable sheet means for engaging said material and at least assisting in the conveying of the same through said apparatus in substantially sheet form, movable nozzle means carried by said apparatus and having an end means provided with at least one opening, said end means and opening being at least partially covered at least part of the time by a flexible porous sheet means wherein said material has a section thereof disposed between said porous sheet means while said porous sheet means is covering said nozzle end means and said engaging means to move in unison with said porous sheet means and said engaging means for a predetermined length of travel through said apparatus, means for causing said end means of said nozzle means and said porous sheet means to be disposed in substantially sealed relation with said section of material during said predetermined length of travel through said apparatus, and means for causing a direct fluid flow from said opening and through said porous sheet means and into said section of material aligned between said opening means and said engaging means to treat said section of material with said fluid, said nozzle means comprising flexible sheet means including said opening and defining said nozzle end means, said means for causing said direct fluid flow also causing said end means and porous sheet means to be disposed in said substantially sealed relation with said section of material by creating a pressure differential across said flexible sheet means and porous sheet means to cause one side thereof to tend to press against said material and thereby press said material against said engaging means.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for causing said direct fluid flow comprises means for directing said fluid under pressure to said nozzle means and out through said opening means thereof and through said porous sheet means into said particular section of material.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said porous sheet means is a felt sheet means and wherein said permeable sheet means is another felt sheet means.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said engaging means and said nozzle means convey said section of material in a substantially straight line length of travel through said apparatus.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said engaging means comprises supporting means for receiving said material thereon and for conveying the same through said apparatus.

6. Method for treating sheet-like material comprising the steps of said material on supporting means including a permeable sheet means, moving said supporting means to convey said material providing an engaging means that includes a permeable sheet means for engaging said material to at least assist in conveying said material in substantially sheet form, causing said material to have a section thereof disposed between an end means of a movable nozzle means at least partially covered at least part of the time by a flexible, porous sheet means and said engaging means while said end means is covered by said porous sheet means to move in unison with said nozzle means and said porous sheet means and said engaging means for a predetermined length of travel, moving said end means of said nozzle means and said porous sheet means in substantially sealed relation with said section of material during said predetermined length of travel of said section of material, and creating a direct fluid flow through at least one opening in said end means of said nozzle means and through said porous sheet means and into said section of material aligned between said porous sheet means and said engaging means to treat said section of material with said fluid, said step of moving said end means of said nozzle means and said porous sheet means in substantially sealed relation with said section of material comprising the step of creating a pressure differential across a flexible sheet means of said nozzle means and that includes said opening thereof and defines said end means and said porous sheet means to cause one side of said flexible sheet means and said porous sheet means to tend to press against said material and thereby press said material against said engaging means.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said step for creating said direct fluid flow comprises the step of directing said fluid under pressure to said nozzle means and out through said opening thereof and through said porous sheet means into said particular section of material.

8. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said porous sheet means is a felt sheet means and wherein said permeable sheet means is another felt sheet means.

9. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said step of causing said material to have a section thereof disposed between said end means of said movable nozzle means and said engaging means includes the step of conveying said section of material in a substantially straight line length of travel in a particular direction as said nozzle means, porous sheet means, engaging means and section of material move in unison.

10. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said engaging means comprises supporting means and including the steps of disposing said material on said supporting means, and moving said supporting means to convey said supported material.

Disclaimer 3,657,069.Robe1=t R. Oandor, Miami Township and James T 0 q mgton Township, Montgomery Count Ohio. g 5E 5? f9? g fi gNT (3 F SHEET-LIKE MATE- aen ae r. 192.D'1' by the inventors. p 1S0 mmer filed P 71 i l fgg the P QFS 0f the term of the patent subs quent to [Oficz'al Gazette M arch 13, 1973.] 

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for causing said direct fluid flow comprises means for directing said fluid under pressure to said nozzle means and out through said opening means thereof and through said porous sheet means into said particular section of material.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said porous sheet means is a felt sheet means and wherein said permeable sheet means is another felt sheet means.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said engaging means and said nozzle means convey said section of material in a substantially straight line length of travel through said apparatus.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said engaging means comprises supporting means for receiving said material thereon and for conveying the same through said apparatus.
 6. Method for treating sheet-like material comprising the steps of providing an engaging means that includes a permeable sheet means for engaging said material to at least assist in conveying said material in substantially sheet form, causing said material to have a section thereof disposed between an end means of a movable nozzle means at least partially covered at least part of the time by a flexible, porous sheet means and said engaging means while said end means is covered by said porous sheet means to move in unison with said nozzle means and said porous sheet means and said engaging means for a predetermined length of travel, moving said end means of said nozzle means and said porous sheet means in substantially sealed relation with said section of material during said predetermined length of travel of said section of material, and creating a direct fluid flow through at least one opening in said end means of said nozzle means and through said porous sheet means and into said section of material aligned between said porous sheet means and said engaging means to treat said section of material with said fluid, said step of moving said end means of said nozzle means and said porous sheet means in substantially sealed relation with said section of material comprising the step of creating a pressure differential across a flexible sheet means of said nozzle means and that includes said opening thereof and defines said end means and said porous sheet means to cause one side of said flexible sheet means and said porous sheet means to tend to press against said material and thereby press said material against said engaging means.
 7. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said step for creating said direct fluid flow comprises the step of directing said fluid under pressure to said nozzle means and out through said opening thereof and through said porous sheet means into said pArticular section of material.
 8. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said porous sheet means is a felt sheet means and wherein said permeable sheet means is another felt sheet means.
 9. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said step of causing said material to have a section thereof disposed between said end means of said movable nozzle means and said engaging means includes the step of conveying said section of material in a substantially straight line length of travel in a particular direction as said nozzle means, porous sheet means, engaging means and section of material move in unison.
 10. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said engaging means comprises supporting means and including the steps of disposing said material on said supporting means, and moving said supporting means to convey said supported material. 